Longtime Division I and GMAC Conference figurehead Jim Wiedie joined Missouri Western Women's Basketball as an assistant coach in July of 2022.
During his first season for the 2022-23 season, the program had an impressive record of 24-7 overall and 18-4 in the MIAA, which included wins over multiple ranked teams throughout the season. Their success earned them a spot in the conference tournament. The team boasted the talented Brionna Budgetts, who was awarded the MIAA Player of the Week title twice. Additionally, four players were selected for the All-MIAA teams.
Coach Wiedie spent the last nine years as the head coach for the University of Findlay Women's Basketball — a Division II team he took to five straight GMAC Tournaments from 2017-22 and one NCAA Regional appearance in 2018. The Oilers went 142-107 under Coach Wiedie's command, giving him the second most wins in program history. Many players thrived under his leadership, including two Division II All-Region players, six First Team All-Conference players, and one GMAC Player of the Year.
Wiedie began his career at Findlay as the associate head coach from 2011-13. While an assistant, Wiedie was instrumental in leading the Oilers to their finest season in school history at the NCAA Division II level during the 2012-13 campaign when they ended the year ranked 20th in the nation with a 24-6 record. They went 19-3 in the GLIAC and reached the finals of the GLIAC Tournament for the first time in school history. The Oilers also qualified for the NCAA Division II National Tournament for only the second time in school history but were upended in the first round by Wayne State University.
During his 10-year tenure as Indiana State's Women's Basketball head honcho, Coach Wiedie and the Sycamores saw much success with a 166-118 overall record — giving the Griffons' new coach the most wins in team history. Coach Wiedie nabbed multiple honors such as the 2003 and 2006 Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year and the 2006 WBCA Region VI Coach of the Year. His Sycamores won the MVC regular season championship in 2003 and 2006 while making the WNIT in those same years as well as 2005. In addition, Indiana State ranked among the top 40 nationally in attendance in all six seasons from 2004-2010.
While he also helped produce 10 All-MVC First Team players and a plethora of other individual hardware, Coach Wiedie's teams have always found awards off the court. Indiana State spent nine-straight years as at least one of the top-13 teams in the nation in GPAs. Three times his teams were ranked No. 1 in all of Division I: 2002-03 (3.63); 2004-2005 (3.60); and 2008-2009 (3.64).
Prior to Indiana State, Wiedie was Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Northern Kentucky University from 1992-1997 and in the same role at Walsh University from 1991-1992.
A native of Akron, Ohio, Wiedie graduated from Kent State University in 1988 with a degree in broadcasting communications. He also received a master’s degree in sports administration from Kent State in 1991.
